Pin tickets



C. A. FLOOD PIN TICKETS Oct. 7, 1958 Filed March 16, 1956 aw}? L'arl U7. 0%

United States atentl 23 Claims. (Cl. 40-25) Mass, assignor to Dennison Framingham, Mass., a cor- In pinning price tickets and other tags to merchandise and the like it is desirable to crimp the point of the pin in such manner that it cannot readily be withdrawn and reapplied without clearly indicating that it has been removed from the merchandise and then pinnedon again. For-example, in the case of price tickets it has beenfound that unscrupulous persons sometimes shift tickets from one article to another in order to purchase more "cheaply or to obtain excessive refunds. However when the points of the pins are crimped after difficultto reapply them but also dilficult to remove them without damage -to the merchandise.

Objects of the present invention are to pin articles together in such manner that the pins cannotbe withdrawn and reapplied without detection, and at the same time to facilitate the Withdrawal of the pins without damage to the merchandise.

In one aspect the ticket has a cut extending thereinto from one edge-adjacent the location'where the pin pierces the ticket to facilitate tearing 01f the body of the ticket preparatory to removing the pin and the remaining portion of the ticket which is still pinned to the merchandise. The cut line may be either a continuous cut or a row of perforations which weakens the ticket so that it can easily be torn along the cut line. The weakened line should extend from the region where the pin emerges from the ticket toward the adjacent edge of the ticket. Normally the pin passes through the ticket and merchandise at one location, thence through the ticket and merchandise at another location and subsequently through the ticket at another location, in which case the weakened line should extend adjacent the second location. In the preferred embodiments the weakened line extends from a line interconnecting the two locations to an adjacent edge of the ticket.

In another aspect the present invention comprises a ticket for attachment to an article with a pin passing through the ticket, thence through the article and subsequently through the ticket again with its point adjacent a portion of the ticket, said portion comprising a tab which is bendable out of the plane of the ticket so that it can be bent without bending the ticket. Preferably the outline of the tab is disposed wholly within the boundary of the ticket and the ticket has a out line extending thereinto from an edge adjacent the pin to facilitate withdrawal of the pin. The tab should extend in the same general direction as the pin.

In another aspect the invention involves the combination of a ticket and a pin for attachment to an article by passing the pin through the ticket, thence through the article and subsequently through the ticket again, the ticket having a tab which is bendable out of the plane of the ticket and the point of the pin is crimped against the tab. Preferably the pin is located adjacent one edge of the ticket, the point of the pin is crimpedagai'nst one side of the ticket and the ticket has a cut line extending thereinto from the aforesaid edge.

Instill another aspect the pin may be headless with a being inserted it is not snarl lines may be omitted it 2,854,771 Ce Patented Oct. '7, 1958 bendable tab on the ticket adjacent one end of the .pin. In a still more specific aspect one end of the headless pin --is bent 'over an edge of the ticket.

For the purpose 'of illustration typical embodiments of the invention'are shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a face view'of one embodiment;

Fig. 2 :is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig.3'isa face view of another embodiment;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4- -4 of Fig.'3;

Fig. 5 is a face view of another embodiment;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a face view of another embodiment;

.Fig. 8 is a 'section'on line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a face view -of-ano"ther embodiment;

Fig. 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a face view of another embodiment;

Fig. 1 2 is a section on line 12-42 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a face view of another embodiment;

Fig. 14 is a section on line 14-14 of Fig. .13;

Fig. 15-is a'face view-of still another embodiment; and

'Fig. 16 is a section on line 16-16-of Fig. 1-5.

In the particular embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the ticket T has a tab 2 formed by a cut 3 extending into the ticket from the left-hand edge and the ticket may also have -a weakened line 4 extending obliquely from the inner end of the cut 3 tothe upper edge of the ticket to guide the tear. The pin-P is inserted through the ticket and fabric from the top, thence through the fabric -and ticket from the bottom at the point '6 and thence through the ticket f'om top to bottom with the point of the pin crimped upwardly against the bottom of the tab 2. To remove the ticket it may be torn on along the line 4 after which the pin P may be withdrawn from the remaining portion 7 of the ticket and from the fabric. This withdrawal of the :pin is facilitated by the ease with which this narrow portion 7 can be bent.

-In-Figs. 3 and 4 the pin P is headless and the "ticket has two tabs=8 and 9 adjacent the ends-of-the pinrespectively. The 'pin is applied in the same way as in Figs. land 2 except that the tail end 1=1of-the pin is crimped down against the tab 9'as shown in Fig. 4. The "ticket has a weakened line formed by perforations 12 so that the ticket may be torn off as described in connection with Figs. -1 and 2. When the ticket "of Fig. 3 is torn off, the ticket pulls-off from the .headless tail portion -11 of the pin. The pin and remaining corner portion ofthe ticket are then pulled -to the left in :Fig. 3 to withdraw the pin from thefabr-ic.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and :6 comprises a headless pin having its tail end "13 crimped over the edge of the ticket. -A weakened linesformed by perforations -16 assists in tearing off the ticket in the manner of the ticket of Figs. 3 and 4. The remaining corner 'portion -14and the pin are pulled to the left to withdraw the -pin from the fabric. Underneath the point of the pin is a tab 17 corresponding to tab 9 of Figs. 3 and '4 and thepoint of the pin is crimped downwardly against the tab 17. Here again the :ticket may be torn'ofi along the line-16 after which the :pin and remaining iportion of the ticket may be removed easily.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 7 .and 8 comprises a ticket having a tab 18. The pin is insertedas in Figs. 1 and 2 and the point of the .pin is then crimped upwardly against the tab 18. g

In Figs. 9 and IO-the ticket has slots 19 at opposite edges and weakened lines 21 extending obliquely from theinner ends of the slots to the upperedge of the ticket to acilitate tearing off the ticket along one line or :the other, although should be understood .that these weak desired. The headed tail portion of the pin P is bent over the edge of the ticket, with the material of the ticket gripped between the head 22 and shank of the pin, the headed tail portion lying on the uper side of the ticket in case the pin passes through the ticket only once as shown, or lying on the lower side of the ticket in case the pin passes through the ticket twice as in Figs. and 6. The pin P has its point 23 crimped downwardly against the upper side of the ticket in contact with the tab 24 formed by the slot 19.

In Fig. 11 and 12 the ticket has a weakened line 25 extending obliquely upwardly from the left edge of the ticket to the point 26 where the pin passes upwardly through the merchandise and ticket, and a weakened line 27 extending obliquely from the point 26 to the upper edge of the ticket. To remove the ticket it may be grasped at the lower end and torn upwardly along the line 25 to the point 26 and thence to the upper edge of the ticket or it may be grasped at the upper right corner and torn downwardly along the line 27 to the point 26 and thence to the lower or right edge. In either case the upper left corner should be held with the other hand while tearing off. Either the weakened line 25 or the weakened line 27 may be omitted if desired. After the ticket has been torn oif as aforesaid the remaining portion of the ticket may be removed easily notwithstanding the S-shape of the pointed end of the pin.

In Figs. 13 and 14 the fastener 31 is in the form of a staple inserted upwardly through the fabric cap F and thence through the ticket T with its pointed ends 32 crimped downwardly against tabs 33 in the ticket so that the points are protected.

The modification shown in Figs. and 16 comprises a ticket having a tab 34 facing in the direction opposite to that of the pin 36 which is inserted straight through the ticket and fabric with its point disposed under the tab 34.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the tab adjacent the point of a pin guards the point against accidental contact with articles or anyone handling the merchandise. Even when the ticket is flexed the tab remains in contact with the point.

It will be understood that in each case wherein a point of the pin is shown as lying against a tab which extends to the edge of the ticket there may be substituted for such tab an internal tab, facing toward but not reaching the edge of the ticket, as in Figs. 5 and 6, and likewise that for this latter kind of tab there may be substituted a tab which extends to the edge of the ticket.

From the foregoingit will also be evident that this invention affords a pin ticket in which the pin is easy to remove but difficult to replace. Owing to the S-bend at the pointed end of the pin, the pin is difiicult to remove because the stiff ticket must flex back and forth as the pin is withdrawn. However with the body of the ticket torn off the narrow remaining portion bends easily and it is therefore easy to remove the pin. Inasmuch as the ticket has been torn in two of course it cannot be replaced without detection.

In each embodiment where one or both ends of the fastener is directed toward the ticket, the fastener is restrained from rotation and from endwise movement, thereby to maintain the ends of the fastener against the ticket. In Figs. 6 and 10 this is accomplished by bending one end of the pin over the edge of the ticket, and in the other figures it is accomplished by the S-shape of one end or both ends of the fastener.

Where the pin passes through the ticket at two locations at its crimped end it may be withdrawn easily without tearing the ticket by having the tab extend from one location to the other as in Figs. 1 and 7 because the portion of the ticket in the region of the crimped end is more flexible.

While the pins may be applied by hand, they are preferably applied by a pinning machine. The pinning maill 4 chine disclosed in my co-pending application for Machine and Method for Pinning Tickets and the Like to Articles, Serial No. 572,052, filed on the same date as this application, is especially adapted for forming an S-bend in a pin and for crimping an end of a pin against the material of the ticket.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope fo the appended claims. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the tab 8 or tab 5 or both may be omitted as in Figs. 11 and 12 if their function is not desired; likewise the tab 17 in Figs. 5 and 6 may be omitted.

i claim:

t. A ticket for attachment to an article with a pin extending through the ticket, thence through the article and subsequently through the ticket again with its point adjacent a portion of the ticket, characterized in that said portion comprises a tab which, substantially laterally of the point of the pin, is demarked from the main body of the ticket material by a weakened line.

2. A ticket for attachment to an article with a pin extending through the ticket, thence through the article and subsequently through the ticket again with its point adjacent a portion of the ticket, characterized in that said portion comprises a tab which, substantially laterally of the point of the pin, is demarked from the main body of the ticket material by a weakened line, the outline of the tab being disposed wholly inward of the boundary of the ticket.

3. A ticket for attachment to an article with a pin extending through the ticket, thence through the article and subsequently through the ticket again with its point adjacent a portion of the ticket, characterized in that said portion comprises a tab which, substantially laterally of the point of the pin, is demarked from the main body of the ticket material by a weakened line and the ticket has a weakened line extending thereinto from an edge adjacent the pin to facilitate withdrawal of the pin.

4. A ticket for attachment to an article with a pin extending through the ticket, thence through the article and subsequently through the ticket again with its point adjacent a portion of the ticket, characterized in that the ticket has a weakened line extending thereinto from an edge adjacent the pin and obliquely with respect to the shank of the pin to facilitate withdrawal of the pin.

5. A ticket for attachment to an article with a pin ex tending through the ticket at one location, thence through the article and subsequently through the ticket at another location with its point adjacent a portion of the ticket, characterized in that the ticket has a weakened line extending from a line oblique with respect to the shank of the pin interconnecting said locations to an adjacent edge of the ticket, whereby the ticket may be torn along said line to facilitate withdrawal of the pin.

6. A pin ticket for attachment to fabric and the like with a pin inserted lengthwise through the ticket and fabric with its point crimped into juxtaposition to a portion of the ticket, characterized in that said portion of the ticket comprises a tab which, substantially laterally of the point of the pin, is demarked from the main body of the ticket material by a weakened line, said tab being bendable out of the plane of the ticket about a line adiacent to the location where the point of the pin emerges from the ticket to facilitate withdrawal of the crimped point.

7. A pin ticket according to claim 6 further characterized in that the tab extends in the same general direction of the pin.

8. A pin ticket according to claim 6 further characterized in that the tab is separated from the main body portion of the ticket by a weakened line along which the ticket may be torn preparatory to removing the pin.

9. The combination of a ticket and a pin for attachment to an article by passing the pin through the ticket, thence through the article and subsequently through the ticket again, characterized in that the ticket comprises a tab which, substantially laterally of the point of the pin, is demarked from the main body of the ticket material by a weakened line and the point of the pin touching the tab.

10. The combination of a ticket and a pin for attachment to an article by passing the pin through the ticket, thence through the article and subsequently through the ticket again, characterized in that the ticket comprises a tab which, substantially laterally of the point of the pin, is demarked from the main body of the ticket material by a weakened line and the point of the pin is crimped against the tab, the outline of the tab being disposed wholly inward of the boundary of the ticket.

11. The combination of a ticket and a pin for attachment to an article by passing the pin through the ticket, thence through the article and subsequently through the ticket again, the pin being located adjacent one edge of the ticket, the point of the pin touching one side of the ticket, and the ticket having a weakened line extending thereinto from said edge to facilitate withdrawal of the crimped pin.

12. The combination of a ticket ment to an article by passing the pin through the ticket, thence through the article and subsequently through the ticket again, characterized in that the ticket comprises a tab which is bendable out of the plane of the ticket and the point of the pin is touching the tab, being crimped thereagainst, and the other end of the pin is headless and said end is bent over an edge of the ticket.

13. The combination of a ticket and a pin for attachment to an article by passing the pin through the ticket thence through the article and subsequently through the ticket again, characterized in that the pin is headless and the ticket has a bendable tab adjacent one end of the pin, said tab, substantially laterally of the point of the pin, being demarked from the main body of the ticket material by a weakened line.

14. The combination of a ticket and a pin for attachment to an article by passing the pin through the ticket and article, characterized in that a pointed end of the pin is bent against a tab portion of the ticket, said tab, substantially laterally of the point of the pin, being demarked from the main body of the ticket line and the opposite end at least of the pin is anchored to the ticket to resist rotary and longitudinal movement of the pin relative to the ticket.

15. The combination claimed in claim 14 in which said opposite end, terminating on the lower side of the ticket material, is also pointed and is anchored to the ticket by having an S-shaped bend.

and a pin for attachmaterial by a weakened 16. The combination of a ticket and a pin for attachment to an article by passing the pin through the ticket and article, characterized in that the pin is headless and pointed at both ends, the pin extends through the ticket, the article, a second time through the article, a second time through the ticket and a third time through the ticket, one pointed end lying against the upper face of the ticket and the other pointed end lying against the lower face of the ticket, there being an S-shaped bend terminating at said other pointed end, the portion of the ticket against which said one pointed end lies comprising a tab lying wholly inwardly of the boundary of the ticket and, substantially laterally of the point of the pin, being demarked from the main body of the ticket material by a weakened line, said tab and its associated pin point being bent below the main body of the ticket.

17. The combination claimed in claim 14 in which the pin is anchored by said opposite end by being bent over an edge of the ticket.

18. The combination claimed in claim 14 in which the pin penetrates the ticket only once and one end of the pin is bent over an edge of the ticket and terminates on the upper side of the ticket.

19. The combination claimed in claim 14 in which the pin is headless and an end of the pin is bent over an edge of the ticket.

20. The combination as claimed in claim 14 in which the ticket has a weakened tear line obliquely disposed relative to the pin and disposed to guide a tear to the region of the shank of the pin to facilitate separating the portions of the ticket carrying the opposite ends of the 21. A ticket for attachment to an article with a pin extending through the ticket in one location, thence through the article and subsequently through the ticket at another location with its point adjacent a portion of the ticket, characterized in that the ticket has a weakened line obliquely disposed relative to the pin and disposed to guide a tear to the region of the shank of the pin to facilitate separating the portions of the ticket carrying the opposite ends of the pin.

22. A ticket as claimed in claim 21 in which the weak ened line begins as a slit at the edge of the ticket, the slit demarking a tab portion.

23. A ticket as claimed in ened line extends to a the ticket.

claim 21 in which the weakplace where the pin emerges from Kohnle May 8, 1928 Flood Aug. 8, 1933 

